Peach tree named &#39;GP45-11&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach tree is characterized by producing a freestone fruit with good red coloration, and that is ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment between July 13-20 in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. The new variety is closely similar to the ‘O&#39;Henry’ peach tree (nonpatented) from which it is a bud sport and from which it is distinguishable in that the fruit matures earlier than the ‘O&#39;Henry’ peach fruit, is more highly colored, has very good flavor and stores very well.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The peach cultivar of this invention is botanically identified as Prunus persica.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The variety denomination is ‘GP45-11’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the continued efforts to improve the quality of available fruit for the consumer, the inventor discovered a bud sport of the O'Henry/Peach variety (nonpatented) on a block of peaches in August of 1999. After reexamining the fruit in 2000, budwood was collected and budded on to Nemaguard rootstock in the dormant season of 2000/2001 on current site. Enough trees (11,403) of this invention were asexually reproduced to plant 59-66 acres. The resulting fruit produced in this planting produced highly colored fruit, with very good size, two weeks before the ‘O'Henry’ variety. In addition this fruit is very juicy with good flavor. The fruit produced in all respects is identical to the original bud sport.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The present invention (variety) was discovered in an ‘O'Henry’ peach planting in August of 1999 on the west side of Madera Avenue, approximately 3½ miles south of the town of Kerman, Calif. in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. The new variety was asexually reproduced in the dormant season of 2000/2001 by bud grafting on Nemaguard rootstock. Enough trees were asexually reproduced to plant 59-66 acres of the new variety. The inventor carefully compared the asexually reproduced trees with the parent sport, including the fruit, and found they were identical in all respects.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘GP45-11’ peach is characterized by producing a large freestone fruit that has good blush coloration and is ripe for commercial harvesting and shipping around July 13-20 in a normal year in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. This new variety is a large fruit with a red blush and yellow flesh with red flecks. It is most similar to the ‘O'Henry’ peach tree (nonpatented) from which it is a bud sport. However, it is distinguishable in that it ripens approximately two weeks before the ‘O'Henry’ variety. The fruit of this new variety is large, with good flavor and good red color, which makes it quite acceptable to the consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates, clockwise from top left: the front and back of whole leaves, whole leaves on a twig from a twig end, top, bottom and side views of the fruit displaying the characteristic skin color and shape, fruit cut in half displaying the flesh, pit cavity and pit in place, and pit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring more specifically to the horticultural details of the new and distinct variety of peach tree, the following descriptions have been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing at the origin orchard, which is located near Kerman, Calif. in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. All major color designations are by reference to the “Dictionary of Color” by Maerz and Paul, First Edition, published in 1930. Common colors are also employed.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—medium, for 3rd leaf tree, 10-11 feet high, 8-9 feet             width.         -   Vigor.—very good.         -   Shape.—upright and spreading.         -   Productivity.—very good to excellent for 3rd leaf tree with             regular bearing.         -   Chilling requirements.—normal for peach trees in the Central             San Joaquin Valley in California. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—medium — 15 inches in circumference, 12 inches above             ground.         -   Surface texture.—moderately rough.         -   Color code.—PL.56 E8 Burgundy.         -   Lenticels.—scattered — moderate number.         -   Size.—small — 0.04 inch. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—medium, circumference 7 inches, 17 inches above             crotch-angle of branches approximately 60°.         -   Surface texture.—mature — nearly smooth — immature — smooth.         -   Color code (1 year or older).—P1.7 E9 — Kaffa, Hamstead             Brown.         -   Color code (immature).—P1.20 K6 — Piquant green.         -   Lenticels.—Number — sparse — Size — small — less than 0.04             inch. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—medium-large.         -   Length.—6.65-7.72 inch.         -   Width.—1.18-1.89 inch.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color code.—Upwardly disposed surface — P1.24 C10 — Shirvan             — Downwardly disposed surface — P1.22 L7 — Art. Green.         -   Marginal form.—crenate.         -   Leaf vein.—Color code — P1.19 L5 — Cosse gr. — Thickness —             0.04 inch.         -   Glandular characteristics.—none.         -   Petioloe.—a. Size — medium — b. Length — 0.39-0.55 inch — c.             Thickness — 0.08 inch — d. Color Code — P1. 19 D6 —             Pistachio gr. or Pistache.         -   Stem glands.—Form — reniform — Position — 1 long gland on             left, 0.16 inch and 2 on right, 0.04-0.08 inch — Color Code             — P1. 6 E9 Near Cameo Br.         -   Stipules.—one 0.08 inch P1.7 J12 — Chutney. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower buds.—conic shape — Color Code — P1.1 C4 Sweet Bryer.         -   Date of first bloom.—50% — Feb. 26, 2005 — showy, abundant.         -   Calyx.—5 sepals — Color — P1.7 L6 India Red.         -   Size.—large — 1.65-1.8 inch.         -   Shape.—ovate.         -   Petals.—5 — Size — Length — 0.78-0.82 inch — Width —             0.75-0.98 inch.         -   Color.—P1.1 C1 Light Pink.         -   Claws.—small — 0.08 inch.         -   Petal margins.—undulate.         -   Pedicel.—0.12 inch — Color — P1. 19 L6 Calliste green.         -   Sepals.—Color — P1.7 L6 India Red.         -   Stamen.—33-38.         -   Filament.—Color — P1.1 J8 Geranium Pink — Length — 0.35-0.67             inch.         -   Anthers.—small — Color — P1.7 H9 Liver Br.         -   Pistil.—0.91 inch.         -   Fertility.—self fertile — no pollinator required. -   Fruit:     -   -   Size.—good — 4 fruit=2 lbs. — avg. ½ lb.         -   Date of maturity.—July 13-20.         -   Size.—Diameter Axial Plane — 2.40-3.03 inches — Transverse             in Suture Plane — 2.64-2.87 inches — Transverse at Right             Angles to Suture Plane — 2.40-2.56 inches.         -   Form.—Symmetrical or Asymmetrical — slightly asymmetrical —             Suture — slightly on ventral side, more prominent on distal             side — Ventral Surface — smooth.         -   Stem cavity.—Width — 0.51-0.98 inch — Depth — 0.39-0.83 inch             — Length — 1.10-1.38 inch — Shape — ovate.         -   Stem.—length 0.31-0.39 inch — Caliper — 0.16 inch.         -   Apex.—rounded.         -   Pistal point.—very small and not prominent.         -   Skin.—thin — normal for freestone peach.         -   Texture.—smooth and firm.         -   Tendency to crack.—none known.         -   Color code.—Blush Color — P1.41 L6 — shade of red — Ground             Color — P1.11 L3 Canary, Quince Y — Flesh Color — P1.11 L5             Lime Y with Red Flesh (P1.49 L7) Indiana — Color of Surface             or Pit Near Pit Cavity — P1.49 L7 Indiana — Color of Pit             Well — P1.49 H5 — Valencia.         -   Juice production.—moderate.         -   Flavor.—very good.         -   Aroma.—mild.         -   Fibers.—numerous on both sides of pit cavity — total             approximately 30.         -   Texture.—somewhat stringy.         -   Ripening.—even.         -   Eating quality.—very good. -   Stone:     -   -   Free or cling.—freestone.         -   Fibers.—Numbers — few — Length — short, 0.12-0.16 inch.         -   Size.—Length — 1.18 inch — Width — 0.98 inch — Thickness —             0.79 inch.         -   Form.—ovate.         -   Hilium.—0.20 inch.         -   Apex shape.—slightly rounded.         -   Color code (dry).—P1.55 L8 Rubient.         -   Base.—slightly rounded.         -   Sides.—heavily grooved.         -   Ridges.—on both sides from apex to base.         -   Tendency to split.—approximately 10 to 15% split ripe.         -   Use.—fresh market.         -   Keeping and shipping quality.—very good.         -   Resistance to disease.—not known.         -   Harvesting.—between July 13-20 in the San Joaquin Valley of             Central California. 

1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree having characteristics described and illustrated herein. 